KC Metro makes some progress on its stroller policy.

Seattle-area parents and other caregivers may now bring open strollers aboard King County Metro buses, something that Sightline suggested in theseposts. By allowing wee ones’ wheels on its buses, Metro has shown it wants to be a family-friendly transit agency. However, to keep up with other Cascadian transit agencies, there’s more work ahead.

Metro’s new stroller policy states open strollers are allowed to board buses. The bus driver will lower the ramp or lift if requested. But once boarded, you must unpack the stroller, collapse it if possible, and hold your child. Thought you could make that sweet, silent nap last through the bus ride? Think again.

To make it easier for stroller-wielding caregivers to ride transit, Metro could look to nearby Sound Transit or Vancouver, BC’s TransLink agencies. Both make sure toting toddlers is easy and well-defined: open strollers are allowed on most buses and trains, but there are stroller size limitations and clear priorities for boarding – disabled or senior riders come first.

So while we’re happy to see Metro is stepping up its considerations for its littlest passengers—not to mention their caregivers—a few more guidelines could make Metro a national example in family-friendly transit.

I know this story is old, but I’m struggling with these bus rules now. I ride King County Metro busses with twin toddlers and a preschooler (and a double stroller). The newer policy just doesn’t make sense and drivers don’t seem to quite get it either. I want to get this changed to a policy that allows open strollers with kids remaining in them. Any ideas on how to do this? KC Metro customer service came back to me with just a reiterration of the rules.

It is a step forward for Metro to allow open strollers to board buses, but you’re correct that it would be more family-friendly if parents could keep their children in the strollers while on board. Some transit agencies worry about safety concerns of having children in strollers while the bus is moving. Others have concerns about large strollers taking up a lot of space. I think the way forward is to continue to push for small steps and pointing out other transit agencies that do allow open strollers. I talked about some of the various rules in this post: http://www.sightline.org/2012/01/10/your-wheels-on-the-bus/.

While it looks like what Copenhagen is doing is great, as a mother of twins that didn’t have a car and took my babies on the bus in a stroller, I can’t believe what metro expected parents to do. In both San Francisco and Oakland parents came on with open strollers, they were just asked to lock the wheels. I continued to be disgusted by how parents and children are treated. Take your open strollers on parents and caregivers!

Stay up to date on the Northwest's most important sustainability issues.

Research Areas

Founded in 1993, Sightline Institute is committed to making the Northwest a global model of sustainability, with strong communities, a green economy, and a healthy environment. We work to promote smart policy ideas and monitor the region's progress towards sustainability.